I had not thought of 38 Special or Toto AT ALL. Now that you mention it, 38 Special was FAR closer to Foreigner than it was to Lynyrd Skynyrd, though both were at the pinnacle of "southern rock".

NOW I remember who I consider to be the one band MOST like Foreigner! The Brian Howe version of Bad Company! Carbon Copy! I loved them too. And I've read where Howe considered Mick a songwriting "mentor". I surely hear it!

Hi #1 Foreigner fan............I had heard that too. Not surprised. I think a LOT of us Foreigner / Bad Company fans saw THAT as a workable, good match.

I think Mick had a hard decision to make. Brian Howe is a dynamic lead singer and talented songwriter, but Kelly Hanson is a better singer and I think likely a much more solid TEAM player. If you consider that Mick "urgently" wanted to maintain the original Foreigner "sound", he clearly made the best decision.

The amateur psychologist in me says that Brian's "maverick/hothead" reputation was also a bit of a liability for an undisputed leader like Mick Jones.

Don't I sound like an effin expert? I don't know these people at all! LOL! :laugh: